Qatar and Pakistan Present 'Partial Response' Initiative: Frozen Funds in Exchange for 'Secret' Nuclear Inspection

Doha (Agencies): French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from Doha yesterday, affirmed that the coming hours and days would bring a response from Tehran regarding mediation efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. He noted that France has never ceased communication with Washington and Tehran concerning the regional crisis, and is striving to expand communication channels and call for an end to escalation. Macron told reporters, “There have been proposals to open the Strait of Hormuz, and this proposal remains available; we discussed it today.”

Macron’s remarks about an imminent Iranian response came after sources familiar with mediation efforts led by Qatar and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran revealed on Tuesday that the mediators had presented a “middle-ground proposal” addressing the demands of both the American and Iranian sides. The sources indicated that the proposal aims to prevent a resurgence of escalation and pave the way for both parties to return to the negotiating table.

The mediation proposal includes a “partial response” to the Iranian demand for the release of frozen Iranian funds. The sources explained that the mediation effort put forward a proposal that elicited a reciprocal American-Iranian response, involving the payment of interest on the $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds held in Qatari banks. They added that the proposal also addresses the American concern regarding Iran’s nuclear file, as Tehran, under the proposal, agreed to allow secret, unannounced visits by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to Iranian nuclear sites.

Sources close to the mediation efforts had previously confirmed that a breakthrough is expected to be announced this week, as part of ongoing mediation initiatives by Qatar and Pakistan to halt the escalation between Washington and Tehran.